The collective stock of the four city dams -Khadakwasla, Panshet, Varasgaon and Temghar -has plummeted to 12.92 TMC (44.33%) in the last week of December. It is almost 10 TMC less than the last year’s stock of 22.09 TMC (75.77%) in the same period.Barring Panshet, which at present has 67% stock, the water in the other three dams has dipped below the halfway-mark.
Petitions from places like Solapur seeking water from the Pune dams could worsen the sce nario in the city.
Fearing water crisis in the city, the irrigation department has decided against releasing water for rabi crops. The executive engineer of the Khadakwasla irrigation division, B B Lohar, said, “Water is released for rabi crops in two rotations from October. But this year, no rotation has been initiated so far. As of now, there is no immediate plan to release water for crops in the near future. Some water could be released to meet the drinking water requirements of the rural population. The release would be planned in the next two months in consultation with the district administration and the Pune Municipal Corporation,“ he said.
Lohar added that the city would continue to receive its monthly stock of water from Khadakwasla. At present, Pune lifts 1.2 TMC water per month through a closed pipeline and canal.
As of now, there is no proposal to increase the ongoing water cut.But a further call on it would be taken in March after reviewing the stock, he said.
The Khadakwasla dam also supplies drinking water to towns like Indapur, Daund and parts of Shirur. The irrigation department has received applications from rural pockets to release water from the city dams, which can be done only after consultation with departments concerned.
Against this backdrop, the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) is looking into a petition seeking release of about 10 TMC water from the Pune dams for Solapur. A decision in favour of release of water would serve a jolt to the district, reeling from water crisis.
A source in the irrigation department said further plans pertaining to water distribution hinged on MWRRA’s directives because water would flow to Solapur from at least four to five dams.
A senior official of the irrigation department said, “We cannot finalize the water distribution plans for the next six months because MWRRA’s directives are yet to come. They will clarify as to how much water is expected to be released from the Pune dams for Solapur. The directives are expected within a few days.“
Source : TOI
